Towson's late rally sinks Nicholls

Saturday

Feb 23, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 23, 2013 at 12:17 AM

Towson's two-out rally in the seventh inning became the difference in beating Nicholls State University on Friday.

Teddy RenoisStaff Writer

Towson's two-out rally in the seventh inning became the difference in beating Nicholls State University on Friday.The Colonels scratched out a run in the bottom of the first inning, and behind starting pitcher Michael Suk, Nicholls held a 1-0 lead going into the seventh inning.However, Suk and the Colonels' bullpen couldn't protect the lead in the seventh as Towson scratched for three runs, all coming with two outs. Those runs were enough as the Towson's pitching staff held the Colonels scoreless after the first inning in a 3-1 nonconference win at Ray E. Didier Field.The teams continue their three-game series today with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. The Colonels (3-2 overall) outhit Towson 8-7, and in the second, third, fifth and eighth innings, Nicholls had runners in scoring positions but couldn't push a run across. Nicholls stranded eight runners on the base paths, while Towson left seven.Colonels coach Seth Thibodeaux said his team had opportunities to jump out on Towson, but without the timely hit, those opportunities were missed."They pitched it well. We had some opportunities, but we let it get away. We let this game slip and we can control a game with what we do, but it can be in negative way. We could have made a play here or there and the guys we left out in scoring position, it is very disappointing," Thibodeaux said. "It is a character building loss and we have to find a way to come back (today). That is a good club and they don't beat themselves. We have to capitalize on our opportunities. They didn't have many opportunities, but they capitalized on it and that is what we have to do."Nicholls did cash in on its scoring opportunity in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Lead-off hitter Matt Richard reached first by getting hit by a pitch then he stole second base.With two outs, designated hitter Keith Cormier laced an RBI-single for the 1-0 lead. Cormier ended the inning when he was caught stealing at second base. Towson played error-free defense and threw out three base runners on steal attempts.Suk, who lasted just four innings in a season-opening loss to Houston Baptist, kept the Towson's batters off-balanced, giving up just three hits through the first six innings.It seemed that Suk was going to get out the seventh inning unscathed after recording two outs, but that wasn't the case. With a runner at first, Suk walked Tigers second baseman Pat Fitzgerald before giving up an RBI-single to shortstop Hunter Bennett.Bennett's hit chased Suk from the game in favor of Marc Picciola, but Towson lead-off hitter Brandon Gonnella greeted Picciola with a two-run single for the 3-1 lead.Picciola only faced Gonnella as Zach Thiac was brought in from the bullpen. Thiac got Tigers third baseman Zach Fisher to ground out to end the inning.Even though he got the lost, Suk (0-2) said he felt better on the mound, but he was disappointed that he didn't get out of the seventh inning."To get back on the mound after the (Houston Baptist) loss, it felt really good. It was good to go out and compete, and I threw real well. In the seventh inning, they got a couple of hits, and I was trying to get them out of there," Suk said. "I had to finish and it was real important to get out of that inning. We played well, but I just needed to get out of that inning."Suk pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up three runs, all earned, on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.The Colonels final scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the eighth inning when pinch-hitter Leo Vargas had a two-out triple off Tigers reliever Mike Ryan.Towson coach Mike Gottlieb brought in Chris Acker to face pinch-hitter Zach LeBeouf. LeBeouf swung at a third strike in the dirt and was thrown out at first base to end the inning.In the ninth inning, Colonels left fielder David Zorn (2-for-4) connected on a one-out single off Acker. Zorn was left on first base as Acker coaxed a fly ball from pinch-hitter Cody Tillotson and swallowed up a comebacker off the bat of pinch-hitter Adam Seal to end the game.After giving up a run in the first inning, Towson starter Mike Volpe got a no decision by pitching 4 1/3 innings giving up five hits with two walks and a strikeout.Ryan did get the win for Towson (4-0) by pitching 3 1/3 innings and giving up just two hits. Acker earned the save.The game was played threw blustery winds and overcast skies, and Gottlieb said those conditions favor pitchers which was the case in Friday's game."We fell behind and I thought (Suk) pitched very well. He did a good job of keeping us down. We managed to get to him at the end, and a day like (Friday), it was kind of a pitcher's day," Gottlieb said. "I just thought the pitchers did well. We didn't hit the ball that well and some of the harder hit balls went right at people, for both teams."